SINGAPORE WELCOMES MTCR OUTREACH MISSION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 000271

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MTS - M. COPPOLA
NEW DELHI FOR J. EHRENDREICH

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSTC ETTC PREL SN
SUBJECT: SINGAPORE WELCOMES MTCR OUTREACH MISSION

REF: A. 2008 STATE 129729

B. 2008 STATE 129731


1. (SBU) Summary: In the context of a regional outreach
effort, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
representatives met Singapore officials March 20 and
exchanged briefings concerning the MTCR and Singapore's
strategic goods control regime. GOS officials stressed the
importance of working toward a "level playing field" in which
the major Asia-Pacific ports apply similar strategic goods
controls, and they welcomed a suggestion that MTCR hopes to
harmonize control regimes in the region. GOS officials were
noncommittal about whether Singapore is considering seeking
MTCR membership. They acknowledged that traders and
re-export businesses need to improve their knowledge of
controlled items in order to make Singapore's strategic goods
control regime more effective. Singapore continues to rely
mainly on voluntary private sector compliance with strategic
goods declaration and license requirements for transshipped
and transit cargo. Singapore will amend its control list in
April to match December 2008 changes in the European Union's
control list. End summary.

Singapore Hosts Australian-Organized MTCR Outreach
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) outreach
program representatives exchanged briefings with Singapore
officials responsible for strategic goods control on March

20. The MTCR representatives visited Singapore as part of a
regional outreach effort that also included stops in Kuala
Lumpur and Jakarta. The Australian High Commission organized
the Singapore meeting, which was in two parts: (a) an
overview and Q&A concerning the MTCR, and (b) an overview and
Q&A concerning Singapore,s strategic goods control regime.
On the Singapore side, the meeting included officials from
the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Industry,
Defense, and Home Affairs, as well as the Defense Trade
Advisory Office of the Defense Science and Technology Agency
(DSTA),the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and the
National Environment Agency. PolOff attended as an observer,
as did an officer from the Australian High Commission and two
from the Russian Embassy (Counselor Konstantin Topilskiy and
First Secretary Vladimir Shin).

Discussion of MTCR
--------------


3. (SBU) Chair of MTCR outreach program John Quinn gave a
brief overview of the MTCR. Quinn is Assistant Secretary in
the Strategic Issues and Intelligence Branch, International
Security Division, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade. Following Quinn's presentation, Brazilian
diplomat Manuel Montenegro of the MTCR Technical Experts
Meeting gave an equally brief overview of the MTCR Annex and
control lists. The Singaporeans asked few questions. They
appeared most interested in references by Quinn to MTCR's
desire to harmonize strategic goods control regimes in the
Asia Pacific region. Subsequent comments from Singapore
Customs indicated that there is concern within the GOS about
having a "level playing field" among major regional ports
with respect to strategic goods control.

Singapore as a Candidate for MTCR?
--------------


4. (SBU) At the end of the meeting, Quinn asked whether
Singapore is considering joining MTCR, which prompted Customs
and DSTA officials to ask what benefit Singapore would derive
from joining. Quinn said that member states' legal and
technical experts enjoy productive interactions under the
MTCR framework, suggesting that Singapore could benefit if
its experts participated in such exchanges. Head of
Singapore Customs Strategic Goods Control Fauziah Abdul Sani
responded by asking Quinn what MTCR members would think about
Singapore joining MTCR. Quinn deflected the question, saying
that Singapore would have to ask MTCR members directly for
their opinions. Earlier, in response to Singapore's briefing
on its strategic goods control regime (see below),Russian
Counselor Konstantin Topilskiy had said that Singapore's
experience shows that a country does not have to be a MTCR
member to accomplish the MTCR goals.

Discussion of Singapore Strategic Goods Control Regime
-------------- --------------


5. (SBU) Singapore Customs gave a short presentation
outlining Singapore's strategic goods control regime. The

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presentation was a standard set of slides Customs officials
have used in other venues. Singapore's "key challenges"
remain: (a) implementing export controls without adversely
affecting trade; (b) dealing with its limited expertise in
controlled items; (c) and being a small country with limited
resources. The presenter also revisited the "level playing
field" theme, emphasizing the importance to Singapore of
other regional ports matching Singapore's strategic goods
control measures. A DSTA representative pointed out that
although Singapore's trained officials can recognize
controlled goods and respond appropriately, traders and
businesses dealing in re-exported items need to become more
knowledgeable about what they are trading and better able to
identify controlled items.

Reliance on Voluntary Declarations
--------------


6. (SBU) Quinn asked several questions about how Singapore
handles strategic goods control for transshipped and transit
cargo. (Singapore's presentation had not covered this
issue.) Singapore Customs Head of Strategic Goods Control
said Singapore mainly relies on shippers to make the required
declarations and apply for any necessary licenses. However,
Singapore Customs will also act based on receipt of specific
intelligence about a particular shipment.

Singapore Amending Its Control List to Match EU Changes
-------------- --------------


7. (SBU) In a new development, Singapore Customs said
Singapore will amend its control list in April to match the
December 2008 changes to the European Union control list.
There will be a six-month compliance grace period for the
private sector to adopt the changes.

Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
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